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The End |
This is The End... of our elaborate plans... The End
After an incredible 13-year run, the decks are set to stop spinning at ground-breaking club
In the beginning was The end.
If the Bible was written by clubbers this might be the opening line.
From its humble beginnings as a 19th-century former Post Office stables, The End rose like a phoenix from the ashes of a listless mid-1990s clubbing scene, changing the face of clubland forever.
But now, disciples of the most discerning of the “superclubs” are gearing up for one last night of shape throwing, because on Sunday the decks will stop spinning, the bouncers will hear their last blag, and the legendary steel doors will slam shut for good.
After 13 years, The End’s family owners are leaving West Central Street and selling up. And to misquote a famous dance anthem, not even a superstar DJ with diamond needles and gold-plated slip mats can save its life.
Zoe Paskin, 33, who owns the club with her brother Layo, remembers the beginning of The End, when it was just a sketch on a piece of toilet paper – the vision of an acid house-worshipping, cash-strapped, serotonin junky and his little sister. Now she is packing up and contemplating life after clubland.
“Layo was always into the music,” she says. “He was running warehouse raves and the club started as a one-off night really.
“Our dad was an architect and stumbled across the venue. Mr C [from the Shamen, who still DJs at the club] put up the £50,000 deposit and it took off from there – a modest idea overnight turned into a huge entrepreneurial venture.
“Dad designed the inside, which had stood the test of time remarkably well.
“I was living in Barcelona having a nice time and trying to learn another language. I was only supposed to come and help out for four weeks.”
It was 1999 and Zoe came in when the club was on its knees – saddled with enormous debts and haemorrhaging money just four years after opening.
But this is not the story of Cain and Abel at 120bpm, and The End went from strength to strength, pioneering trends, breaking new acts and becoming the first club to run seven nights a week.
“The club was at a real low point when I joined. We had massive debts and we nearly had to sell,” Zoe says.
“We were just fire fighting. Fabric opened and Home came along and they definitely poached some of our trade. But then we started getting things right, never stretching ourselves and keeping our core values and ethos.
“We came back from the edge and the last years have been some of our most successful. We’ve had more people through the doors than ever.”
So if they’re doing so well why are they closing? And does this sound the death knell for clubbing in the West End? In the past 18 months The Cross, The Key, Canvas and Turnmills have all gone.
“It’s a time of life thing really,” Zoe explains. “It’s not the recession. I think it’s time to move on and we wanted to go out while the going was still good.
“It’s a round the clock operation and we’re not as young as we were. I’ve gradually moved away from the dance floor to the edge of the bar over the years.
“Clubs don’t go on forever and 13 years is a pretty good return. Obviously clubbing has changed. A lot of the scene has gravitated to east London but I think there will still be a place for clubbing in the West End. It’s just going to be different.”
Among the names that will forever be associated with the iconoclastic venue include drum and bass legend Andy C, Carl Cox, the imperious Fatboy Slim and the Twice as Nice imprint – once hosting David Beckham as a guest DJ and making The End the fourth biggest shifter of Moet & Chandon champagne in the country.
Not to mention the quirks that separated it from the tranche of other superclubs: lollipops in the toilets, pizzas (and June Sarpong) at the bar, the island style DJ booth.
Tonight (Friday) the cream of the drum and bass scene will play in the round and on Saturday all the residents, including Zoe’s brother Layo, will play the teary eyed 24-hour closing party – complete with an outside silent disco to keep the expected crowds happy.
Zoe is going to do her best to keep it together. “I’m trying not to think about it,” she says.
“I’ll have a lot of handshaking to do but I’m going to try and have a good time and not let the nostalgia get to me.” |
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